Changes to ISO 14001 environmental standard worry engineers 13 August 2014

Worrying uncertainty about the impact revisions to the global standard for environmental management ISO 14001 will have is revealed in a new survey from specialist Cedrec.

ISO 14001 is due an update early in 2015 in line with a new high-level structure for all management system standards adopted by ISO. It will also take in wide-ranging recommendations from ISO's EMS Future Challenges report.

However, Cedrec – which offers advice in understanding, interpreting and complying with environmental and safety legislation – says a survey among clients suggests that most (62%) are unsure about what the changes require.

More than three quarters (88%) knew about the changes, while 42% were unclear as to what they should be doing and a third (32%) were not sure where the biggest effects would be felt.

Cedrec believes the revisions will be an important step in the maturity of the standard, in terms of how it helps address the risks and opportunities of environmental management.

"The future focus for businesses will be to prepare better for the environmental impact caused by climate change, resource scarcity and flood incidence," says Cedrec consultant Richard Clarke.

"The survey confirms that the most important element is, and will be going forward, the greater significance of environmental management in strategic planning," he adds.

"This revision gives environmental management the power to break out of its current silo and enter the mainstream of strategic business management – raising its importance, and increasing the [extent] to which the environment is seen as central to business improvement," he explains.

Brian Tinham

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Cedrec Information Systems Ltd

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